CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Endeavour embarked on its new life as a museum piece today, leaving behind its NASA home and heading west on the last ferry flight of its kind.

Bolted to the top of a jumbo jet, NASA’s youngest shuttle departed Kennedy Space Center at sunrise on the first leg of its flight to California.

Hundreds of people gathered at the runway and on nearby beaches to bid Endeavour farewell following two days of rain delays. Endeavor will spend the night in Houston before continuing its journey to Los Angeles International Airport, where it’s scheduled to land Friday.

In mid-October, Endeavor will be transported down city streets to the California Science Center.